Rotary marking tools

ABSTRACT

A journaled hollow main shaft which is an internal gear having many teeth, has thereabout a spiral spring arranged to bias it to a normal rest position, and also a helical coil spring clutch allowing shaft rotation in a direction to stress the spiral spring, but normally restraining said shaft against reverse movement. The marking wheel is also an internal gear whose position is between the arms of a clevis which is the tool body. One clevis arm is a casing housing said springs and mounting said shaft. A spindle which is a spur gear most of its length, extends coaxially through said shaft and wheel, and has all its teeth in engagement with the teeth of said internal gears, but is separable therefrom by relative longitudinal movement. The other arm of the clevis offers a bearing to support one end of the spindle and a means to releasably hold said spindle against longitudinal movement.

. 0 imited Mates Patent [151 mawiz Friedman 1 Feb. 8, 11972 [54] RUTARY MARKING 'HUULS 3,188,943 6/1965 King et a1 ..101/7 [72] Inventor: Jerome Friedman, 19 The Glenada, 3'487777 H1970 Fnedman Roslyn 1 1576 Primary Examiner-William B. Penn [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1969 Att0rney--Friedman & Goodman [21] App1.No.: 816,586 57 ABSTRACT A journaled hollow main shaft which is an internal gear having [52] US. Cl ..l0l/7 any teeth, has thereabout a spiral spring arranged to bias it N 3/ 1 5441) 5/02 to a normal rest position, and also a helical coil spring clutch [58] Field of Search ..101/7, 6, 28, 38, 375 allowing shaft rotation in a direction to stress the spiral spring, but normally restraining said shaft against reverse movement. [56] References Cited The marking wheel is also an internal gear whose position is between the aims of a clevis which is the tool body. One clevis UNITED STATE PATENTS arm is a casing housing said springs and mounting said shaft. A

spindle which is a spur gear most of its length, extends coaxi- 1,978,330 10/1934 Scholtes ..101/28 y through Said Shaft and wheel, and has all its teeth in em 2,417,865 3/1947 Douglass... .....101/7 2 610 576 9 1952 N 101 7 gagement with the teeth of said internal gears, but 18 separable i therefrom by relative longitudinal movement. The other arm 2939386 6/1960 'i et "101,7 X of the clevis offers a bearing to support one end of the spindle 2,974,583 3/1961 Fr edman ...101/2 and a means to releasably hold said spindle against longitu- 2,996,977 8/1961 Friedman ..101/5 (final movement 3,019,724 2/1962 Hoffmann.... .....l01/7 3,053,172 9/1962 King 101/7 6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 33 Ell I? V/////// 1 1e Mel 31 norAnY MAnmNc TOOLS The present invention relates to rotary marking tools of the type employing a marking wheel which is brought to bear against a rotating piece of work to make its impression thereon. Upon completion of the marking operation and withdrawal of the marking tool from the work, the marking wheel which is spring-loaded, automatically returns to its initial start position. A means is included to prevent reverse rotation of said wheel until the tool is withdrawn from the work, which in practical products on the market heretofore, utilized a ratchet wheel and pawl held spring-biased thereto, and in addition, a screw adjustment means was included for determining the wheels start position. The wheels are changeable.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved rotary marking tool of the character mentioned, of exceedingly simple construction, in which there is no ratchet and no start-position adjustment means, and yet there is proper restraint of marking wheel movement and positive setting of the marking wheel at any desired start position.

Another object thereof is to provide an improved rotary marking tool, in which all control mechanism is permanently housed in the body of the tool and protected from flying chips which are incident in machining operations occuring in the environment and operation of said tool; said mechanism being engaged for proper action upon the mere insertion of a removable spindle which mounts the marking wheel.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved rotary marking wheel of the kind set forth, affording easy mounting, removal and change of the marking wheel by a simple hand manipulation without the use of any tools, and without the necessity of moving any parts which hold the spindle in operational assembly.

A further object there is to provide so simplified a mechanism, that its parts are easily assembled and fitted in place in a casing, all accomplished by hand except for the tightening of screws to hold the casing halves together. In this new tool construction, there is nothing to get out of order and there is nothing to adjust, once it is assembled.

Still a further object thereof is to provide a novel and improved rotary marking tool of the character described, which is easy and reasonable in cost to manufacture and efficient i carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, the marking tool body includes a clevis, one arm of which is a two-part casing through which extends a journaled member which may be called a main hollow shaft which is an internal gear having many teeth. The marking wheel, also an internal gear, is positioned between the clevis arms. A spindle presenting spur gear formation, is rotatively fitted in the other arm of the clevis serving as its bearing, where it is releasably held against longitudinal movement. This spindle is concentrically through both of said internal gears, so its teeth are in engagement as splines with both said hollow shaft and marking wheel, and is longitudinally slidable therethrough when free of said hold. About said main shaft within the casing arm, is a spiral spring arranged to bias said shaft to a normal rest position, and also a helical coil spring clutch allowing the main shaft rotation in the direction to further stress said spiral spring, but normally restraining said main shaft against reverse movement. A slidable rod extending from the casing arm, is adapted upon interception when the tool moves away from the work, to release the engagement action of said coil spring, whereupon the main shaft is automaticallyreturned to its normal rest position.

I will now set forth a detailed description of a preferred form of this invention and explain the manner of its use and its mode of operation, for which reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a rotary marking tool in accordance with the teachings of the invention. The marking wheel is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the flat face of a marking wheel whose periphery carries the indicia to be engraved.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the removable spindle on which the marking wheel is to be mounted.

FIG. 4 is a perspective bottom view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the member called the main shaft herein, which is associated with spring means in a casing provided by the body of the tool.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a helical coil spring which is one of the springs housed in said casing.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the interior of one of the casing parts.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the interior of another casing part.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of FIG. 7 and mechanism it carries.

FIG. 10 is a section taken at line 10-10 in FIG. 1, including the marking wheel.

FIG. 11 is a section taken at line 1lll in FIG. 1.

The FIGS. 5-11 are enlarged views.

In the drawing, the numeral 15 designates generally the rotary marking tool comprising a marking wheel 16, positioned between the arms 17 and 18 of an enlarged U-formation which is at the end of a shank 19, thereby forming a clevis body 14. The arm 17 is relatively thin in relation to the arm 18; the latter arm having a lengthwise outer cover plate 18', which is secured thereto by the screws 20. Each of said arms and said plate is provided with a bore; said bores being coaxial. In the arm 17-, its bore 21 serves as a bearing for the end portion 28 of the spindle 22 which is for carrying the marking wheel 16. In the arm 18, its bore 23, which acts as a bearing for the end part 28' of the hollow shaft denoted generally as 24, has a relatively large and deep counterbore 23' which houses a helical coil spring 25 about said hollow shaft 24, on an enlarged intermediate section 26 of said shaft, which said coil frictionally engages. In the cover plate 18', its bore 27 serves as a bearing for the other end portion 29 of said hollow shaft 24, and has a relatively large and deep counterbore 30 which houses a spiral spring 31 about said shaft end 29. Hence, in assembly, it is evident that the arm 18 and its cover plate 18, offer a casing to confine the springs 25 and 31.

The length of the hollow shaft 24, is preferably equal to the thickness of the arm 18 and its cover plate 18'. The length of the spindle 22, is preferably equal to the distance between the outer faces of the arm 17 and said plate 18'. The reduced end of said spindle which is supported in the arm 17, has an annular groove 32, which is releasably engaged by the springbiased plunger pin 33, mounted through the arm 17; said pin normally extending into the bore 21. The intermediate length of said spindle 22, is a spur gear formation of many teeth, indicated at 34. The marking wheel 16, is formed as an internal gear whose teeth are indicated at 35, and the hollow main shaft 24 is also an internal gear whose teeth are shown at 36. All the teeth of the spindle 22, are engaged with all the teeth of said internal gears, thus effecting a multispline association. Said spindle is withdrawable from and insertable into said internal gears, by longitudinal movement in relation thereto. The end of the spiral spring 31', is anchored on the pin 37 which extends laterally from the enlarged intermediate section of the hollow shaft 24, and its other end is anchored on a pin 38 extending from the cover plate 18', into the counterbore 30. One end of the helical coil spring 25, is anchored in a hole 39 in the arm 18, while its other end terminates in an outwardly radially directed portion 40, which is free, and adapted to be shifted to slightly enlarge said coils diameter, upon an inward shift of the slidable rod 41, which is in association with a sort of bellcrank 42, positioned to act on said coil spring end 40. The numeral 43 indicates a stop pin extending radially from the main shaft 24, to be intercepted by a stop pin 44 which is fixed and extends from the cover plate 18'. Said stop pins ride in an enlargement 30' of the counterbore 30. The action of the spiral spring 31 is to bias the hollow shaft 24, to return said shaft to a position where the stop pin 43 is made to contact the fixed stop pin 44; said spring 31 becoming further stressed when the marking wheel 16 is turned upon contact with the periphery of a rotating piece of work. The action of the coil spring 25, due to the direction of its winding, allows the shaft 24 to turn with the workpiece, but prohibits reverse movement of said shaft, except upon being enlarged by action of the rod 41, here provided to accomplish such function. Said coil spring 25, thus serves as a unidirectional clutch in relation to the main shaft 24, and so controls marking wheel movement.

To make the assembly shown in FIG. 1, so the tool 14 is in condition for use to receive a marking wheel thereon as shown in FIG. 10, the cover plate 18' being as yet separate, the hollow shaft 24 with the coil spring 25 mounted on the part 26 which it frictionally engages, and the spiral spring 31, having one end anchored on pin 37, and said spiral about the part 29, is mounted in the arm 18, and given a turn or so that said spiral has initial tension before anchoring its other end on the pin 31 extending from the cover plate 18. Arrangement should be such that the stop pin 43 is in contact against the stop 44, and allow the shaft 24 clockwise rotation, during which the coil spring 25, which is wound in proper direction, will hold the said shaft 24 from reverse rotation. Of course, before setting on the cover 18, the bellcrank element 41 is set in place on the ledge 40, and the rod 41 is set in its channel 49, with its stop lug 41" in the niche 50. Held so assembled, the cover plate 18 is secured in place by the screws 20.

With the stops 43 and 44 urged in contact by action of the spiral spring 31 which is the normal condition of the tool at rest, the marking wheel 16 to be used is set in position between the clevis arms 17 and 18, so that the start of the first character thereon is at true start position for contact with the work, not shown. Then the spindle 22 is inserted through the hollow shaft 24, grooved end first in, and through the marking wheel held at its said set position, and finally through the bearing 21 in the arm 17, whereupon the spring plunger 33 becomes engaged in the annular groove 32 of the spindle. Of course, the teeth 44 of said spindle will be engaged with the teeth 36 of said shaft 24, and with the teeth 35 of the marking wheel, which assembly is shown in FIG. 10. It is evident and of particular interest that no other adjustment is required to determine the starting position of the marking wheel. The spindle 22 is insertable when in coaxial relation with the internal gears, without regard that any particular tooth shall be in any particular position. The need for an adjustment screw to determine start position as was mandatory in prior devices of this class, has been eliminated. All marking wheels for use in this tool will of course have teeth identical with 35, for engagement with the teeth 34 of the spindle, so the wheels can be interchanged. if any wheel does not fit the distance between the clevis arms 17,18, any existing space therebetween can be filled in by suitable spacer washers, not shown, on the spindle.

One manner of use of the tool 14, is to mount the shank 19 thereof in a proper tool post on the crossfeed of a lathe, with the marking characters of the marking wheel nearest the work rotating in the lathes chuck. When the tool is advanced to the work in the lathe so that the characters 16 will bear with pressure onto the work, the marking wheel will be turned a part of a revolution clockwise, and will halt when the marking operation is completed, because of the relief at 16" in the marking wheel; no reverse rotary movement of said marking wheel being permitted due to the action of the said coil spring brake 25, on the hollow shaft 24.

An element fixed on the frame of the lathe, in the path of the tab 41, when the tool 14 is withdrawn from the work, serves to shift the bar 41 against the bellcrank element 42 which is cammed into position to shift the coil spring end 40, thereby causing the coil 25 to become stressed and open," that is, to increase its diameter and become loose on the shaft 24. Immediately thereupon, the said shaft will be turned counterclockwise by action of the spiral spring 31, until the stop 43 will come into contact with the stop 44, whereupon the tool is restored to its normal rest position, and it is evident that the marking wheel is again at start position, all ready for action on the next piece of work presented in the lathe chuck. Now, on the tools forward motion to the said next workpiece, the rod 41 is freed and is returned to its outward position as shown in FIG. 1, because its return shift is limited by its stop 41 such movement being caused by the return of said coil spring 25 to its normal lesser diameter, which coiling up of said spring 25, has caused its end 40 to rock the element 42 on its fulcrum and thus push said rod 41 to its said outward normal rest position. The stop element on the lathe to trip the said tab 41, or some cam means to shift it, being well known in the machine art, further illustration of the lathe and its equipment is believed unnecessary.

When mounted for use, the marking wheel end of the tool 14 is in an environment where metal chips fly during cutting operations occuring thereat. it is important to note, that the construction of this tool prevents any chips from entering its mechanism. Further, there is nothing in the tools makeup which can get out of order, and spring stressing being of low caliber, spring life is very long. Further it is extremely easy to change the marking wheel and to set it in proper start position, and that for such replacement no tools are necessary, and for the proper setting, no adjustments are necessary. Merely using a finger to push out the spindle 22, and to replace it, is all that is required to effect the dismounting of one wheel and then to mount another.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment illustrated and described, shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive.

lclaim:

l. In a marking tool of the character described, a body member, a hollow shaft positioned therethrough and only in rotatable relation therewith; said member having an interior space about said hollow shaft, a first means within said space allowing said hollow shaft rotation in only one predetcnnincd direction, a marking wheel having marking elements along a portion of its periphery and a region of said wheel immediately after the end of the last marking element thereon being of reduced diameter; said hollow shaft and said marking wheel each being an internal gear, a spindle extending through said hollow shaft and in part outwardly thereof; said marking wheel being carried on said outward part, means holding said marking wheel against movement along said spindle; said spindle, wheel and shaft being in coaxial relation; said spindle having a plurality of teeth therealong; all the teeth of said spindle being in engagement with teeth of both said internal gears, whereupon on rotation of said marking wheel, said spindle and shaft will rotate therewith; said spindle being longitudinally slidable into and out of said internal gears at a plurality of positions of the marking wheel in relation to their common axis, means on the body member releasably holding the spindle against longitudinal movement, and upon release of the spindle, said spindle being manually shiftable out of both said internal gears, a first stop element on said hollow shaft, a second stop element on said body member; said stop elements being in position to be in intercepting contact, a spring means biasing said hollow shaft to a position whereat said stop elements are normally in contact, a second means within said space including a movable element extending therefrom to be accessible, which when moved, said last-mentioned means will cause the first means to allow said hollow shaft rotation in reverse direction.

2. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the first means comprises a helical coil spring having two ends, positioned about the hollow shaft and in frictional contact therewith; one end of said coil spring being secured to the body member, and wherein movement of said movable element of the second means will cause the other end of said coil spring to be shifted whereby the diameter of said coil spring is enlarged, thereby undoing the frictional hold of said coil spring and allow the hollow shaft movement in the reverse direction.

3. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the spindle is a spur gear; each gear having the same number of teeth.

4. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring biasing the hollow shaft, is a spiral form housed in the mentioned space about the shaft.

5. In a marking tool of the character described, a body member, shaft means rotatably mounted on said member, said shaft means comprising a spindle and a shaft, means connecting said shaft to said spindle for rotation therewith, a marking wheel carried on said spindle of said shaft means, means connecting said spindle to said marking wheel for rotation therewith, whereupon on rotation of said marking wheel, said spindle and shaft will rotate therewith; said marking wheel having marking elements along a portion of its periphery and a region of said wheel immediately after the end of the last marking element thereon being of reduced diameter, a stop element on said shaft, a second stop element on said body member; said elements being in position to be in intercepting contact, spring means biasing said shaft to a position whereat said stop elements are normally in contact, a helical coil spring having two ends, positioned about said shaft and in frictional contact therewith allowing said shaft rotation in only one predetermined direction; one end of said coil spring being secured to the body member, and movable means on said member arranged to contact the other end of said coil spring and to shift such other end whereby the diameter of said coil spring is enlarged whereupon said shaft is freed for movement in the reverse direction.

6. A marking tool as defined in claim 5, wherein the body member has an interior space therein about the shaft; said helical coil spring being within said space; said movable means for acting on the second end of the coil spring, extending from said space, and the spring means biasing the shaft, being a spiral form about the shaft and also within said space. 

1. In a marking tool of the character described, a body member, a hollow shaft positioned therethrough and only in rotatable relation therewith; said member having an interior space about said hollow shaft, a first means within said space allowing said hollow shaft rotation in only one predetermined direction, a marking wheel having marking elements along a portion of its periphery and a region of said wheel immediately after the end of the last marking element thereon being of reduced diameter; said hollow shaft and said marking wheel each being an internal gear, a spindle extending through said hollow shaft and in part outwardly thereof; said marking wheel being carried on said outward part, means holding said marking wheel against movement along said spindle; said spindle, wheel and shaft being in coaxial relation; said spindle having a plurality of teeth therealong; all the teeth of said spindle being in engagement with teeth of both said internal gears, whereupon on rotation of said marking wheel, said spindle and shaft will rotate therewith; said spindle being longitudinally slidable into and out of said internal gears at a plurality of positions of the marking wheel in relation to their common axis, means on the body member releasably holding the spindle against longitudinal movement, and upon release of the spindle, said spindle being manually shiftable out of both said internal gears, a first stop element on said hollow shaft, a second stop element on said body member; said stop elements being in position to be in intercepting contact, a spring means biasing said hollow shaft to a position whereat said stop elements are normally in contact, a second means within said space including a movable element extending therefrom to be accessible, which when moved, said last-mentioned means will cause the first means to allow said hollow shaft rotation in reverse direction.
 2. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the first means comprises a helical coil spring having two ends, positioned about the hollow shaft and in frictional contact therewith; one end of said coil spring being secured to the body member, and wherein movement of said movable element of the second means will cause the other end of said coil spring to be shifted whereby the diameter of said coil spring is enlarged, thereby undoing the frictional hold of said coil spring and allow the hollow shaft movement in the reverse direction.
 3. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the spindle is a spur gear; each gear having the same number of teeth.
 4. A marking tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring biasing the hollow shaft, is a spiral form housed in the mentioned space about the shaft.
 5. In a marking tool of the character described, a body member, shaft means rotatably mounted on said member, said shaft means comprising a spindle and a shaft, means connecting said shaft to said spindle for rotation therewith, a marking wheel carried on said spindle of said shaft means, means connecting said spindle to said marking wheel for rotation therewith, whereupon on rotation of said marking wheel, said spindle and shaft will rotate therewith; said marking wheel having marking elements along a portion of its periphery and a region of said wheel immediately after the end of the last marking element thereon being of reduced diameter, a stop element on said shaft, a second stop element on said body member; said elements being in position to be in intercepting contact, spring means biasing said shaft to a position whereat said stop elemEnts are normally in contact, a helical coil spring having two ends, positioned about said shaft and in frictional contact therewith allowing said shaft rotation in only one predetermined direction; one end of said coil spring being secured to the body member, and movable means on said member arranged to contact the other end of said coil spring and to shift such other end whereby the diameter of said coil spring is enlarged whereupon said shaft is freed for movement in the reverse direction.
 6. A marking tool as defined in claim 5, wherein the body member has an interior space therein about the shaft; said helical coil spring being within said space; said movable means for acting on the second end of the coil spring, extending from said space, and the spring means biasing the shaft, being a spiral form about the shaft and also within said space. 